During our auctions on 17 and 18 September at the Equestrian Center in Ermelo, there are different ways to place a bid. You can of course be present yourself to assess the foals during the presentation, in the stable and subsequently in the auction. In addition, online bidding offers a solution for everyone who cannot be present.

The process of online bidding starts with creating an account through this link, something that is useful to do well in advance of the auction. It can take some time until the account has been verified by Foal Auction Prinsjesdag, and only then can you log in. You can log in to the special bidding page from two hours before the auction, and after unlocking the bid button, you can bid live from anywhere in the world at the exact time of the auction. When a bidder has made the highest bid via the online bidding system, this will be confirmed in writing and the organization will contact you further after the auction.

You can also be represented by a commission agent, for whom we have made a special arrangement from this year, and of course it is possible to make an offer by telephone for one or more foals.

It is increasingly common for foreign buyers in particular to be represented by a commission agent. This has also not gone unnoticed by Foal Auction Prinsjesdag and that is why they can claim a commission from this year.

The commission agent arrangement applies to the Prinsjesdag auctions on August 3 in Ommen and September 17 and 18 in Ermelo. Brokers who purchase a foal for a customer can claim a commission from a certain amount. There are of course some rules attached to this. For example, it is important that the commission agent indicates in writing to the secretariat prior to the auction that he or she is acting for one or more bidders/buyers. When the foal in the auction is awarded to the commission agent and he or she has signed the purchase contract, the commission agent for Foal Auction Prinsjesdag is equal to the buyer. With all the obligations that entails. This makes the commissionaire responsible for a correct financial settlement and then he or she will be able to claim the commission after delivery of the foal. Full terms and conditions can be found on our website.

Bid in multiple ways

Every year a significant part of the foals of Foal Auction Prinsjesdag are bought by foreign buyers. Just like the Dutch buyers, they can bid by telephone, online and at the auction itself. Do you act as a commission agent for someone at our auctions? Then report to the organization in good time.

On Saturday 3 August, ten exclusive jumping foals will be auctioned by Koen Olaerts in the second edition of Foal Auction Prinsjesdag at CSI3* Ommen. Last year it turned out that the competition at the Schuttert family offers a wonderful stage for the carefully bred and selected future talents. Several riders already invested in the future during the first edition.

“You see auctions of embryos and even frozen embryos everywhere. There is a huge run on genetically high-quality foals, and that is of course the market that Foal Auction Prinsjesdag focuses on. For many riders, and breeders, buying a foal is the ideal and sometimes only way to ensure a promising show jumper. The advantage of buying a foal compared to an embryo is that you can select much closer to your goal. You not only know the pedigree, but also the sex, the development, the canter, the model, and so on”, selector Fred van Straaten is enthusiastic. “We are very pleased with the foals that are part of the Ommen collection. The collection includes very interesting colts for sport and breeding, as well as genetically top interesting fillies that, in addition to a sports career, can also be used to build a new stock.”

Collection online

On our website you can find everything about the ten foals, which descend from top sires such as Carthago, Diamant de Semilly and For Pleasure, as well as current sport stallions such as Don VHP Z, Breitling LS and Opium JW van de Moerhoeve. Extensive pedigree information, photos and videos are now available to view. Anyone who cannot attend the auction on Saturday evening 3 August has the option to bid online in real-time via the system of WeAuction.

A direct Carthago descendant, sons of sporty high earners such as Don VHP and Breitling LS, and the dam lines of international greats such as Usha van 't Roosakker, Gancia de Muze, As Cold As Ice Z, Plot Blue and Dulf van den Bisschop. For the exclusive Prinsjesdag auction on CSI Ommen on August 3, the selection committee was able to put together a very interesting group of ten promising foals.

Following on from the first edition in 2018, another edition of Foal Auction Prinsjesdag will take place this year during CSI3* Ommen. On Saturday 3 August, auctioneer Koen Olaerts will be selling ten exclusive future talents in the evening. Last year it turned out that top international riders made their mark during this auction, and this year's collection only increases that chance.

Belgian influence

It is striking that half of the collection comes from Belgium. “That is unavoidable these days, because Belgian breeding has made enormous strides in recent decades. Nowhere can you find so many performance genes as in our southern neighbors”, explains selection committee member Fred van Straaten. “We felt like a child in the candy store with various Belgian breeders. Fantastic foals with the very best pedigrees, and that is exactly what we are looking for for Foal Auction Prinsjesdag.”

Selector Willem van Hoof is also eagerly looking forward to the auctions in Ommen and Ermelo, for which the collection of jumping foals is now also complete. “This year we were able to select the foals for Ommen at an early stage and we deliberately looked for slightly older foals, as the auction is already at the beginning of August. I think the selected foals have interesting sire and dam lines and most of the foals are closely related to top show jumpers. And not only on paper, but also the foals themselves are very promising. In that regard, we just have to hope that they end up in the right hands," concludes Van Hoof.

Genetic gems

“We were able to produce an interesting mix of mare and colts for the auction during CSI Ommen, which we believe will meet the buyers' demand. For example, we are very happy with a filly by Cello van de Bisschop out of a daughter of Usha van 't Roosakker, which will be a very good investment for both the athlete and breeder. We also have interesting fillies by Opium JW van de Moerhoeve and Diamant de Semilly”, adds Van Straaten.

Genetic highlights for sport and stallion breeding are also part of the collection. “It's great that we were able to select a very special colt from the Olympic top progenitor Carthago. And convincing colts such as a Don VHP Z out of the damline of Gancia de Muze, a For Pleasure out of the damline of As Cold As Ice Z, a Poker de Mariposa out of the famous Lottie/Zottie damline and a Diarado out of the strong Niki- tribe."

Sport and breeding

Last year the auction proved during CSI Ommen all its value because sportsmen such as Lucas Porter, Willem Greve and Hendrik-Jan Schuttert bought one or more foals. This year you can go through WeAuction online in real time. The full collection will soon be available at www.prinsjesdag.eu. The collections for the regular auctions in Ermelo on 17 (jumping foals) and 18 (dressage foals) September will also be published here.

Over the years, Foal Auction Prinsjesdag has not only built up a large network of buyers and entrants, the auction has also entered into a successful alliance with a select group of business partners. One of these partners is Sport Horse Clinic Wolvega† The clinic in the Frisian town is fully focused on the health of (sport) horses. We spoke to vet Marco de Bruijn about the company. 

Marco de Bruijn is one of the clinic's senior partners. He graduated in '97 as a veterinarian in Ghent. He made internal diseases his specialty and is a Dutch and European certified internist. He has been working in Wolvega since 2004. Marco: “I care a lot about (very) young foals. At the University Veterinary Center Utrecht I was responsible for the so-called 'foal brigade' for four years. In Wolvega, I am responsible for emergency care and hospitalized patients, among other things.”

The clinic employs a total of fourteen (equestrian) vets. Four of these are senior partners. De Bruijn: “What makes our team unique is the way we treat each other. There is a very good atmosphere in the practice. We do not have a strict hierarchical organization. Our mission is therefore to bring out the best in each other. We believe this is the only right way to find and retain the right employees for our company.”

Work is currently underway on a new building in Wolvega. Sports Horse Clinic Wolvega will soon consist of three locations on one site; the hospital, the new sport horse clinic and the gynaecology department, which also houses the farrier and the laboratory. “We are busy with the new building. The opening is planned in October. In the meantime, the clinic is of course fully operational, we are in the middle of the foal season.”

Inspection Prinsjesdag foals

Sports Horse Clinic Wolvega will perform the first inspections of the selected foals during the photo-video days of Foal Auction Prinsjesdag. “During the first inspection, we check whether a foal is wheel (not lame), whether it has an overbite and whether heart, lungs and eyes show any abnormalities. We also check whether the animals have an umbilical hernia and whether the testicles of colts have descended.” The foals are inspected again on the day of the auction.

He is clear about the importance of inspections for horses: “A good inspection is important. It is not a sandwich at the bakery that you buy. With a good veterinary inspection, mutual expectations become clear in advance. You have to know what you are buying and selling. Non-potential buyers can judge for themselves whether a foal is healthy, and breeders often cannot. In order to avoid misery, an expert should shed some light on this.”

The veterinary reports of all foals in the selection of Foal Auction Prinsjesdag can be viewed online prior to the auction. Veterinarians from Sportpaardenkliniek Wolvega will be present on the auction day(s) to explain the reports.

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